Day: January 6, 2025

From Spain to Bhubaneswar: Sneha’s Journey to Find Her Biological Mother

Manish Kumar

A Spanish citizen, Sneha, has embarked on an emotional journey to Odisha, India, to reconnect with her biological roots. Adopted in 2010 along with her brother Somu by Spanish parents, Gema Vidal and Juan Josh, Sneha’s quest to find her biological mother, Banalata Das, brings her back to Bhubaneswar after nearly two decades. Accompanied by her adoptive mother, Gema, a yoga teacher from Zaragoza, Sneha arrived in Bhubaneswar on December 19, hoping to locate Banalata, who abandoned her and her brother in 2005. The siblings were later placed in an…

Odisha: BJP Leaders Killed in Dumper Collision; Alleged Intentional Attack Under Investigation

Manish Kumar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders tragically lost their lives in Odisha’s Sambalpur district after a dumper truck collided with their car in the early hours of Sunday. Authorities are now investigating allegations that the collision may have been intentional, based on claims from eyewitnesses. The deceased, identified as Debendra Nayak, the BJP Goshala mandal president, and Muralidhar Chhuria, a former village head (sarpanch), were close associates of senior BJP leader and ex-MLA Nauri Naik. The incident took place around 1:30 AM on National Highway 53 near Burla police station. Nayak…

Ramesh Bidhuri Sparks Controversy Over Remarks Against Atishi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Manish Kumar

New Delhi: BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri, known for his controversial statements, has once again stirred outrage with remarks targeting Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. His comments, made during a public event in Delhi on Sunday, have drawn criticism from rival parties and civil society alike. Remarks Against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra In a widely circulated video, Bidhuri promised to make roads in his Kalkaji constituency “like Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks.” He compared his pledge to an infamous statement by RJD leader Lalu Prasad about actor and BJP…

Small Vendor, Big Earnings: TN Pani Puri Seller Faces GST Probe

Manish Kumar

A pani puri vendor in Tamil Nadu has come under the scrutiny of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) authorities after reportedly receiving online payments totaling ₹40 lakh during the 2023-24 financial year. Under the GST regime, businesses with an annual turnover exceeding ₹20 lakh are required to register for GST and comply with its provisions. The substantial amount received by the vendor through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions has raised suspicions about potential tax evasion, prompting the issuance of a GST notice. The incident has sparked discussions on social…

Reliance Retail Abandons Dunzo Stake Amid Mounting Losses

Manish Kumar

Reliance Retail’s recent decision to write off its $200 million investment in Dunzo marks a significant development in India’s quick commerce sector. This move comes amid Dunzo’s ongoing financial challenges and strategic shifts, shedding light on the volatile nature of the hyperlocal delivery market. In January 2022, Reliance Retail acquired a 25.8% stake in Dunzo with a $200 million investment, aiming to enhance its presence in the burgeoning quick commerce space. This partnership was expected to leverage Dunzo’s hyperlocal logistics capabilities to bolster Reliance’s retail operations, including last-mile deliveries for…

Apple Agrees to $95 Million Settlement in Siri Privacy Case

Manish Kumar

In January 2025, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over privacy concerns linked to its Siri voice assistant. The lawsuit alleged that Apple recorded and stored user interactions with Siri without explicit consent, including instances when Siri was not actively in use. The claims suggested a violation of privacy expectations and a lack of transparency in Apple’s data handling practices. Users accused Apple of breaching trust by collecting sensitive voice data without proper disclosure. Despite the severity of the allegations, Apple denied any wrongdoing but…

Ketan Parekh Back in SEBI’s Crosshairs

Manish Kumar

Ketan Parekh, the former Mumbai stockbroker infamously banned by SEBI in 2003 for 14 years due to allegations of insider trading, price rigging, and illegal fund diversion, has once again come under scrutiny. Known for artificially inflating the prices of selected securities, dubbed “K-10 stocks,” Parekh’s past actions led to a major market crash, erasing billions of rupees in market capitalization. In the latest development, Parekh has been implicated in a front-running scheme within India’s stock market, using insider information from a major foreign institutional investor. SEBI has issued an…

MeitY Releases Draft Rules for DPDP Act

Manish Kumar

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has unveiled the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, marking a pivotal step for India’s privacy landscape. The draft rules detail obligations for data fiduciaries, consent manager roles, and handling children’s personal data.   Additionally, the draft rules outline the establishment of the Data Protection Board, including the process for appointing the chairperson and other members, along with their terms and conditions of service, marking a key step in implementing the Digital Personal Data…